Oaxaca is a beautiful historic city southeast of Mexico City with a rich heritage and a slowly recovering reputation that was marred by the Teachers’ Strike of 2006. The teachers’ protests cast Oaxaca in an unfavorable light and even made it quite dangerous (in much of 2006 impossible) to visit.
While undoubtedly a complex situation, the sad fact is that despite striking each year for 25 years (each time for better pay), Oaxacan teachers do not seem to be improving the performance of their students. Education in the state of Oaxaca is among the worst in Mexico, leading one to wonder if the strikes are helping or hindering the education of poor Mexican children. To an outside observer, it seems obvious that students are better off learning in school rather than sitting at home while their teachers protest each year. During the strike in 2006, students sat at home for 7 months – a scandalously long time for a young student.
But thankfully, with the resolution of the situation, children are back in school and tourists have started to return to this charming colonial city.
There are many things to do in and around Oaxaca. Here are the top things to do that will leave you with fond memories of Oaxaca:
The Zocalo is where the action is – day or night. There are plenty of restaurants on the Zocalo for a nice meal or a margarita. In the evening, people-watching can be a lot of fun as you sit under giant trees and listen to street musicians performing throughout the plaza. Don’t be afraid to go exploring, especially for dinner. We found an excellent local restaurant nearby that served one of the most delicious meals we had while in Mexico. When sightseeing in town, use the Zocalo as a handy orientation for where you are and where you want to go.
Read the full review on the Zocalo in Oaxaca
Mitla is the second most famous ruin around Oaxaca. It is a bit further away but well worth a visit. Mitla is a small ancient city that became the most important city for the Zapotecs after the fall of Monte Alban in 750 AD. The ruins are mostly a collection of religious and ceremonial buildings built within the old city walls. When the Spanish arrived, they dismantled many of these buildings and built a church here. The best way to experience Mitla is with a guided tour, which typically also include a stop at a Mezcal distillery, a visit to a modern Zapotec weaver and the widest tree in the world, the Tule Tree.
Hierve el Agua, at 2400m above sea level, is a geologically fascinating sight that will appeal to travelers who want to get closer to nature while visiting Oaxaca. It is located further east of Mitla, making it a good attraction to visit in conjunction with Mitla. Hierve el Agua means “the water boils” in Spanish and once you get there, you will see why. Because water trickles down the rock face so slowly, it mostly evaporates, leaving behind rock formations that resemble a frozen waterfall. It isn’t easy to get here on your own but it is an impressive waterfall that was an important source of water for the ancient civilizations here.
Read the full review on Hierve el Agua
Monte Alban
Monte Alban was the biggest and most well known ancient city of the Zapotecs near Oaxaca. It was built as early as 500 BC and was the great center for the Zapotec civilization. The city is impressive – thousands of workers built religious temples, palaces, tombs and ball courts high in the mountains east of modern day Oaxaca. As all of the great centers, Monte Alban was the heart of the empire and in turn, the epicenter of religious importance.
Just 9km (6 miles) from Oaxaca, Monte Alban is close enough that you can simply grab a taxi and spend a half day exploring the ruins.
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